A top official from the Ministry of National Defense (MND) on Monday defended the workings of the National Defense Industry Development Foundation (NDIDF).
The official, Deputy Defense Minister Cheng Der-mei, was responding to reporters after giving a budget report at the legislature.
There have been questions about the budget for the foundation, which funds the domestic development of weapons. There is also concern that there is no legislative supervision.
Cheng responded to those concerns, saying that there is a strict supervisory mechanism in place, and that there is no hidden budget.
“We absolutely do not have a hidden budget, the National Defense Industry Development Foundation follows strict operational procedures, and aren’t I here today at the legislature to make public our procedures? We also have an [internal]-examination mechanism in place. Seven of the board members are from outside of the foundation and they help keep us in check. Please rest assured, we definitely do not have a hidden budget,“ said Cheng.
A defense official who is also a higher up at the foundation, Chen Cheng-chi, said the foundation is hoping to fund the further development of indigenous warships and fighter jets.